The relationship between passive ankle joint stiffness and the stiffness of muscles, nerve, and tendon

Passive joint stiffness reflects the stiffness of various soft tissues across a joint. However, no previous studies have investigated the relationship between passive joint stiffness and muscle, nerve, and tendon stiffness. This study aimed to clarify whether passive ankle joint stiffness is related to stiffness in the triceps surae muscles, tibial nerve, and Achilles tendon. Thirty-eight healthy adults participated in the study. The passive ankle joint stiffness (slope of angle-passive torque curve) and shear wave velocities, which indicate soft tissue stiffness, of the triceps surae muscles and tibial nerve were measured at 5 degree of ankle plantarflexion and 5, 15, and 25 degree of ankle dorsiflexion. The shear wave velocity of the Achilles tendon was measured only at 5 degree of plantarflexion. A multiple regression model (forced-entry method) was constructed at each angle, specifying the shear wave velocities as the independent variables and passive joint stiffness as the dependent variable. At 5 degree of plantarflexion, no shear wave velocities were significantly related to passive joint stiffness (all p ≥ 0.05). At 5 and 15 degree of dorsiflexion, only the shear wave velocities of the tibial nerve were significantly positively related to passive joint stiffness (p = 0.024 and 0.008, respectively). At 25 degree of dorsiflexion, the shear wave velocities of the lateral gastrocnemius muscle and tibial nerve were significantly positively related to passive joint stiffness (p = 0.002 and 0.001, respectively). It can be concluded that both triceps surae muscles stiffness and tibial nerve stiffness are related to passive ankle joint stiffness.